Is UV Treatment Effective for Vitiligo?
- Our experts at TXID Vitiligo Clinic at San Antonio offer latest technology for treatment of Vitiligo
- UVB and excimer laser are effective in treatment of Vitiligo specially in young individuals
- UVB and laser is usually combined with other topical and oral treatment for Vitiligo
- Multiple light treatment sessions are required to achieve best results for treatment of Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that causes the skin to lose and/or stop producing melanin, the pigmentation that dictates the color of your eyes, skin, and hair. This loss of pigmentation, in Vitiligo, is why white patches on the skin, the hair, or even the eyes may appear and continue to grow over time. While the loss of pigmentation is not associated with physical pain, the loss of color may be unsightly or embarrassing.
Recently researchers have identified candidate genes that are associated with a higher chance of developing Vitiligo. Interestingly, people with brown and dark eyes have a higher change of developing Vitiligo than do those who do not have these characteristics. Scientists are unsure why this finding has developed, but further studies are ongoing.
While Vitiligo is not curable, there are treatment options that may help to slow down or stop the loss of pigmentation, and in some cases, may help to restore color. At the Texas Institute of Dermatology, we offer a high-power, narrow band ultra violet B (UVB) laser treatment for Vitiligo. The rays of the focused light delivers a special form of UVB that uses a specific ultraviolet B wavelength. This form of treatment, due to its ease of process, is swiftly becoming the treatment of choice for patients suffering from Vitiligo, especially if it appeared recently.
The exact mechanism of UVB and excimer laser on Vitiligo patient is unknown. However, recent studies suggest that light treatment induces a local immunosuppression and therefore restores skin pigmentation.
